<p>Alright guys. Just to start, I have been lurking this forum since last year and have decided to make an account today. Let me just share my story with you guys, as this is my last chance to make or break my life.
Im a 17 year old kid. Im not the nerd type but I am most definitely intelligent. My whole family comes from medicine, and I can safely say it is what I want to practice in the future. I was spoiled by my parents, drive a BMW, live in a nice house, go to a fancy private school, etc. When I want something I buy it. Simple enough. Im not going to go around buying 50$ video games or clothes or food etc, but If i see a belt or shirt then Ill take it. Anyways. I have never (been lucky enough to) experience of working for what I want. I just need assistance right now guys. </p>
<p>I have some A's and B+'s. GPA around a 4.8 with unweighted CUM of around 3.6, 3.68 ish. My sat is a 1730, and my ACT is a 27. Right now I need to get my scores up to a 30 ACT or 1950 SAT. I clearly prefer the ACT better but I will still need to improve on both. I have not been studying day and night, but I have been doing problems every day for 2 weeks before the ACT. Of course I know this is not enough, but that is primarily the extent of my preparation. This coming months are going to be the most crucial ones of my life right now. I would just like to know your recommendations for a person like me in order to pull a 30 on the next ACT or a huge increase of 200 points over the next 2 SAT's. What are your methods or suggestions to reaching my goals?</p>
<h1>Current/Goal</h1>
<h1>Sat</h1>
<h1>1740/1950</h1>
<h1>Act</h1>
<p>27/30</p>
<p>I just want to thank anyone who posts here and want to say one last thing. You people have no idea HOW BLESSED YOU ARE to work for what you have. I learned this the hard way and now it is coming to bite me in the rear. Thanks again guys.</p>
<p>Well the grass is greener on the other side. Since you obviously have money at your disposal, get some of your friends to recommend SAT and/or ACT tutors who helped them achieve success. Focus on the Blue Book for practice for the SAT and the ACT equivalent respectively. I can offer you assistance on the SAT within the limitations of the internet if you would like. Just PM me with any questions you may have along with your strengths/weaknesses. I never was formally acquainted with the ACT, so while I can help to explain problems and lead you to the solution, I would not be as effective at offering “testing strategies” for it.</p>
<p>Honestly, since you have the money, just go to a good test prep center. I’d recommend Elite Test Prep or Excel Test Prep. If those aren’t close to you, find a solid test prep center close by (yelp reviews or friends/word of mouth around school). They really help by guiding you through the prep and forcing you to do work 
</p>
<p>If you’re on your own:
Get the Blue Book, get Barrons 2400 book. Practice!
SAT Writing Bootcamp on YouTube
SAT Math Bootcamp on YouTube
SAT Habits - test.ive.com (remove the .'s)</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I’d like to practice on my own though. I’ve been to places before and they never helped too much. I want to focus on helping myself not other people helping me</p>
<p>I’d recommend the BB (obviously). PR is pretty good, but a bit tough, as is Barron’s. If you’re shooting for real advanced stuff or look to master the difficult questions, the Kaplan 2400 is great. It has left me scratching my head many times. Also, get books based on the sections, so you have books to tune in on each section rather than one giant book.</p>
<p>A test prep course would be beneficial, too, which is what I am currently doing along with all the extra work through the above books. Let the tutor know your goal and don’t be afraid to push yourself. It can only benefit you.</p>
<p>Good luck :)</p>
<p>So so far what Ive gathered, this is my strategy…</p>
<p>3 sections for SAT/ 1 Section ACT per day depending on what I am studying
Review answers in back of book if explanations available
Purchase Barrons/Princeton Review book
SAT I have october 6th test, november 3rd test. ACT is the 27th I believe.</p>
<p>Ive already massacred my Collegeboard blue book with random sections torn out and half completed. Should I just restudy them anyways or go to the aftermarket book?</p>
<p>Will just doing 3 sections a day as my SAT prep really boost my score by ~200 points overall? There must be more to it…</p>
<p>What else would you guys recommend for studying on my OWN? </p>
<p>Thanks guys!</p>
<p>The trick isn’t to simply do 3 sections a day. It’s to attempt the questions and see what you’re having trouble with. Once you see what you generally tend to have trouble with (ie: you got all geometry questions wrong…go review the geometry section in your prep book!), you can hone in on those areas and really try to make sure you fully understand it and that if asked again, you’d get it correct for sure.</p>
<p>SAT is easiest to improve the Writing and Math. Writing, if you notice that “… and … (is) taking the bike.” is incorrect, you will try to see what better works. When you read that “are” is the better answer, you’ll understand where you went wrong, or what info you didn’t know, so you won’t make the same mistake again, feel me? 
</p>
<p>Barrons 2400 has a really comprehensive math section. Grubers SAT Guide also has a comprehensive math section. If you’ve got the money, check out Rocket Review Revolution for Writing. Critical Reading is best improved with practice.</p>
<p>OH, also check out the Sparknotes SAT guide (Free online!), it’s got a comprehensive review/breakdown of the sections. It also goes over the most common mistakes in Writing.</p>
<p>I can’t really give great genius tips (yet…) but I just want to say, from experience, self study takes a lot more time than prep school time. I self studied the SAT and it took me around 2 years to get where I am at today. My best friend went to a prep class and about 3 months later, she scores just as high.</p>
<p>Just something to consider…</p>
<p>Yeah, I definitely think you’d be more efficient at a test prep center. Just my 2c.</p>
<p>Well I have been to prep courses though. I dont have strategies per say, but I am almost always finishing with at least 5 minutes left on the timer</p>